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College football kickoff: Tigers in Tuscaloosa, Top 25 buzz, matchups and picks

AJ McCarron

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 2-3 - FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2013, file photo, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (10) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama's rebuilt offensive line, which lost three All-Americans and two NFL first-round picks, was the biggest question mark in the Crimson Tide's bid for a third straight national title. Maligned early in the season, the group has kept quarterback AJ McCarron's jersey mostly spotless, opened gaping holes for the backs and answered the questions. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

If you crunch the numbers, it's not that surprising of a stat. After all, Birmingham has been ESPN's No. 1 market for 12 years and counting. Alabama has the nation's most passionate college football fans, and in Alabama-Auburn, the intrastate rivalry that is traditionally considered the best in college football. But to anyone paying attention, the Tide's yearly bouts with LSU have recently emerged as the sport's true crown jewel.

LSU coach Les Miles (left) talks with quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) following an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in Oxford, MS. Mississippi won 27-24. (AP Photo/ The Daily Mississippian, Austin McAfee)

As ESPN's Rece Davis points out, the team that emerged victorious in the last eight versions of this epic SEC rivalry has each time been rewarded with a direct path to the national title game, an opportunity one of them has capitalized on in four of the past six seasons. The heroes of those eight games are essentially the who's who of NFL first-round draft picks. JaMarcus Russell and Dwayne Bowe. Julio Jones and Trent Richardson.

Make no mistake about it, these are the two programs most responsible for the SEC's rise to prominence over the last decade. In the past three years alone, these schools have produced a combined 16 first-round draft picks, or more than five per draft. Heck, even Nick Saban has abandoned any illusion that this game isn't a monster: (via USAToday.com)

"I think, based on the history of this game, the quality of team that LSU has, the guys that have been in the program and played against them before, the very physical, difficult, competitive battles that we've been in, in every game, that it's hard for them, hard for me, hard for probably LSU's players, probably hard for everybody to think that this is just another game."

Now, onto this year's battle. We already know all about AJ McCarron and the Tide, who are nearly two-touchdown favorites. In honor of Stanford's shocking upset on Thursday night, let's take a look at what it will take for the Tigers to pull off a Tuscaloosa encore to the Cardinal's performance. As Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune writes, LSU needs star quarterback Zach Mettenberger to go off on Saturday against an Alabama defense that's been impenetrable for the better part of two months. After seeing his quarterback struggle recently, LSU head coach Les Miles would have to agree: (via NOLA.com)

"I think our quarterback has to play well," said Miles. "I think there was some impatience there that was evident in the last couple of weeks. But I think there's a need to recognize the style of defense we're going to play and some of the throws that you take and some of the throws that you don't."

One thing is for sure, Mettenberger certainly has the supporting cast around him to make things happen. Between running back Jeremy Hill and wideouts Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, the Tigers offense can run you over or beat you through the air, and Alabama's defense knows it: (via ESPN.com)

"Their offense is explosive," said Alabama safety Landon Collins. "Even though you know the play and you know what they're going to do, they're still going to execute to their full advantage. It's unstoppable sometimes."

If LSU's offense is an unstoppable force, than consider the Tide's defense an immovable object. Bama hasn't allowed a point in the first half since September 14. In three of their six games since, their opponent hasn't run a play in Alabama territory in the first half. In the three games in which an opponent has, they've thrown more interceptions than completions. But ESPN.com's Brad Edwards still thinks LSU's downfield passing attack can have success:

So, which teams are best equipped to get these big chunks of yardage against the Tide? That's an easy one: Teams that can throw the ball well. Of the 27 plays of 20-plus yards the Alabama defense has allowed this season, 24 came through the air. And it just so happens that LSU, this week's opponent, ranks third in the FBS with 51 completions for at least 20 yards.

In short, something has to give tonight in Tuscaloosa. If it's Alabama's defense, history tells us that a November loss will likely spell doom for the Tide's title hopes, regardless of their recent history. If it's LSU's offense, then the Tide has one less roadblock on their quest to become the first team ever to win four national championships in five years.

Watch Matt Hayes of the Sporting News break down Alabama-LSU, as well as some of the other marque matchups on tap this week:

Top games

Here's a look at some of Saturday's other can't-miss matchups involving Top 25 teams in the BCS standings:

• Only a day before it faces archrival Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan fired head coach Ron English, who compiled an 11-46 record in four-plus years with the Eagles. (via MLive.com)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin encourages his team in the fourth quarter against Auburn during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in College Station, Texas. Auburn won 45-41. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)

• Duke Johnson, Miami's star running back, had successful ankle surgery this week after an injury ended his season against Florida State last Saturday night. Dallas Crawford will try to fill Johnson's shoes as the Canes host Virginia Tech tonight in Miami. (via the Sun-Sentinel)

In coach Tony Levine's second season at the helm, the Cougars ranked No. 11 in the country in scoring offense at 41.1 points per game. They've scored at least 46 points on four occasions, including a 49-21 victory at Rutgers on Oct. 26, and they're currently the only FBS program to score in every quarter this season. Dating back to 2012, that streak runs 39 consecutive periods.

"They finished top five, six [in recruiting] every year. So the personnel is there," Thigpen said. "Gus has always had success when he's been [at Auburn]. Those kids, it's not like they couldn't play. We played Clemson until the last minute [in 2012]. We played Mississippi State to the last second. We played LSU until the last second."

Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey runs for a long gain against Utah in the second half of an NCAA collge football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona won 35 to 24. (AP Photo/John Miller)

• Despite leading the nation in rushing last year, Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey was largely ineffective in last years' blowout loss to UCLA. But that hasn't stopped Bruins coach Jim Mora from singing the junior tailback's praises: (via ESPN.com)

"He runs hard. He's got great vision. He's good after contact. He's elusive. He's powerful. He's a slasher. He can catch it in the open field. He can break the long one. He can get the tough yards up inside. He's got all the attributes you look for in a great running back."

"I sort of cut my teeth at Virginia when Frank [Beamer] was growing that program and learned so much from him. No matter how much that rivalry was, Virginia-Virginia Tech at that time, Frank was always class. In our conference, he's kind of the patriarch, if you will. When Frank talks, we all listen."

• A week after Navy's Marcus Thomas nearly dashed their BCS hopes with a big return late, Brian Kelly and Notre Dame took a closer look at their special teams units headed into tonight's tilt with Pittsburgh. Kelly had the following to say, courtesy of ESPN.com's Matt Fortuna:

"There are some things that I've addressed and I would say this: Sometimes when you look at what you're doing, you're trying to do too much. When it comes to kickoff coverage, we were accounting for probably a little bit too much out there, instead of getting the guys down the field and getting after the football."